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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

WHAT TYPE OF HIJABI ARE YOU?

Hijab has sadly become a largely distorted order of Allah, and it's really, nothing but worrying to see what the Hijab has become in the recent past. I know everything undergoes some kind of evolution with time, but the commands in Islam are timeless, and it's meant to be upheld and not distorted over time. So what evolution has the Hijab undergone? For a start, Google "Hijab fashion show" and "Hijab styles". Done? So now you can see for yourself what the Hijab has been reduced to. From everything starting from "Summer Hijab Fashion" to "Hijab trends 2012", they have it all. And what's more than sad to see is that our women are falling headlong into the trap of these Hijab trends and fashion.So basically, Hijabis can be narrowed down to 5 categories. Choose for yourself which category you fall into:1- HALF/INCOMPLETE HIJABIHow has the Hijab been ordered by Allah? "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks ("Jalabib") veils all over their bodies that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not molested: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." [Surah Al-Ahzab: 59].So you see, this Hijab ordered by Allah in the Quran is the complete Hijab. Any Hijab that falls short of this definition is an incomplete Hijab. Which brings us to the Hijab of the present. Somehow, most people, Muslims included, perceive the Hijab to be merely a headcover, but this verse above clearly says that we should "draw our cloaks over all their bodies". Doesn't this simply refer to the Jilbab or the Abaya? Ask yourself if wearing the Hijab headcover with tight-fitting skinny jeans, short T-shirts and transparent clothing is ok. How can this type of Hijab be complete if you have not met the purpose of the Hijab- which is to conceal your adornments.And what is the correct Hijab? I'll come to that.2- GLITZY HIJABIEver come across pages online that give advice on how to 'glam up your Hijab'? Well, that's exactly what I'm talking here. Accessorizing the Hijab is simply unacceptable. Why? Because it has not been allowed in Islam. See this verse here:“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; That they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what is apparent of it and that they should draw their veils over their bosoms.” (Surah Noor 24:31) So, do you think that 5 layers of make-up, fancy brooches and Hijab pins and whatever other accessories that Hijabis put up nowadays is allowed? It has clearly been stated in the Quran "Not display their beauty and adornments" and we still find it acceptable to glam up our Hijabs?3- PART-TIME HIJABIIslam isn't a seasonal or part-time commitment. If we call ourselves Muslims, we should practice Islam every moment of our lives at any place, anywhere. “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).So, taking off your Hijab in the presence of men who are not mentioned in this verse also falls into the category of part-time Hijabis.So what about these part-time Hijabis? Wearing the Hijab only when they are in the company of 'religious' people and taking it off when they feel ashamed of wearing the Hijab in front of their friends or in certain places. This is not something that is even marginally acceptable. How can you fulfil a command of Allah only when you feel like it and walk away from it when you don't feel like it?4- RELUCTANT HIJABIAs I've said countless times before, the Hijab is an order from Allah and if you know anyone who doesn't wear the Hijab, you should try your best and advice them to wear it. So, reluctant Hijabis are as you might have guessed already, those Muslimahs who are not ready for the Hijab yet, but are forced to wear it because their parents want them to. You see sisters, you should wear the Hijab with love and pride. It's a beautiful blessing from Allah to us, and we should be able to wear the Hijab with our heads held high. What's the point of wearing the Hijab when you don't want to? 5- A COMPLETE HIJABIThis is the best, most beautiful, most honourable, most respectful and most amazing Hijab ever! And although only a few women are ready to put on the complete Hijab, those who do so are undoubtedly earning numerous rewards from Allah!So what's a complete Hijabi? Well, it's the Hijab worn by the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam and the Sahaba women. How was their Hijab? Refer to this Hadith below:It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in ihraam.When they came near, each of us would lower her jilbaab from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover (our faces).”[Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1833; Ahmad, 24067]They wore the Jilbab and the Niqab and this, my dear sisters in Islam, is the Hijab worn at the time of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam and this fact alone makes it the complete Hijab.So, which category do you fall into? If it's anything but the last, I suggest that you correct your Hijab and your intentions. You may not want to wear the Niqab, but even if you do wear your Hijab with an Abaya or loose fitting clothes, that's good MashaAllah. But wouldn't you want to take that one step forward and wear the kind of Hijab worn by the Sahaba women and the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam?Choose for yourself which kind of Hijabi you'd want to be. And choose wisely.

Wa'alykum salaam warahamatullahi wabarakatuhu sis! Aww, Jazakallah Khair! I was thinking of writing this post for a long time, but kept putting it off because I was afraid of offending some Hijabis (I hope not!). But I read your post about the Hijab trends and thought I should go with it :)

Hijab rarely is the type it should be. The essence of Hijab is NOT to attract but when you go shopping, you get all solution to "Hijab" except for the one that soves the purpose.

Back in India, it is more identified as a black gown and that all about it. The less said about it the better.

May ALLAH help us make understand, our sisters, mothers, wife, and other relatives and the society in general the real concept and rationale and ruling behind it, rather that just "imposing" it on them.

This is a great post. However, sometimes it becomes important to understand where a person is coming from before restricting things for him or her outright. This is from the sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh) and is clearly shown in several of Allah's commands(like the prohibition of Alcohol).

So while the practice of wearing over the top make-up and making the hijab 'sexy' definitely is beyond me, it is imperative that we let a muslimah who has opted for a hijab(esp in a totally westernized society/a new muslimah) sometime to get to a level where her Taqwa makes her strive for a hijab that is not for material needs. Sometimes too much criticism could turn such sisters away from the deen and we have to be careful about not being part of that.

Haya comes from within and cannot be enforced. Sometimes, letting a muhajabah carry on her hijab confidently and smartly is the best Da'wah.

Sis, I agree completely with you. I know that some sisters find it tough to carry out the perfect Hijab, but there's no obedience to the creation at the disobedience of Allah. I just hope I haven't offended anyone with this post because that wasn't my intention. I just wanted Muslimahs to know what the real Hijab is. Jazakallah Khair for your comment sis!

Alhamdulillah i am not a complete Hijabi. However, not too long ago i was the fashion/glitzy/incomplete hijabi. I came to love proper hijab (jilbab) by myself through reading Quran and Sunnah. I believe that sometimes harsh criticism can push a sister further away then bring her closer to proper hijab. I think if i had someone calling me Harram all the time, it would hurt my feelings, and stunt my growth in the deen.

I was often judged by those in full hijab, and i can tell you it did not make me admire them, and i lost some respect for them. They looked down at me, and picked at my flaws and how "imperfect and harram" my attire was.

I do not agree with this approach at all, we have to have the hiqma in guiding people, muslim or not. And be sensitive too. I think a person circumstances needs to be taken into account also. I, myself for example was a uni student with no money, no loan and so a new wardrobe was out of the question. So for 3 years i made do with what clothes i had and could only afford headscarf from H&M and tried to layer and make my clothes as hijabi friendly as possible. Everyone has their own struggles and often judgment is not needed, and will not do any good either.

I did not mean to be harsh in approach sis. I was just addressing the modern Hijab trends and how far it is from the Hijab that has been prescribed to us. Sadly, the entire purpose of the Hijab is lost, and also sis, circumstance cannot come in the way of your worship with Allah or it should not lead us away from obeying a command from Him. I agree that we should never look down on anyone- Hijabi or not- but we have to enlighten them on what is right and wrong. And, sometimes, we have to tell them in a way they have to listen- and not in the way they want to listen.I pray that Allah forgives me if I've been harsh- it really was not what I meant. All I wanted was that this post would, by the Leave of Allah, inspire at least one Muslimah to correct her Hijab :)

Assalamualaikum :)Nice post. I'm wearing hijab, but I don't wear niqab. Do you think I can be in the last category? MashaAllah, sis. You're great in giving opinion. I'll keep update with you,insyaAllah.